God of Tender Mercies,
We pray You will come to us in the gentle and tender moments of life. May our defenses be lowered. May we risk being in relationship with You, Dear Lord. The power of the manger story is its weakness and vulnerability. Embrace us, O God, as we become vulnerable to You. In Jesus name, AMEN.
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Sam and Sandra Justice’s granddaughter, Norah Keinath, still has kidney problems. She was born on May 29th. The situation is isn’t getting any worse, but it isn’t getting better either. They are told nothing can be done until she is 2 years old. Please continue to pray for Norah.
Please pray for Maribel Moore. She had surgery yesterday at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital to repair earlier surgery on her leg. Maribel will probably be there until Friday.
The Caregivers and the Hospital Callers had their Christmas party yesterday. What a profound ministry! Please pray for these people as they call on our shut-ins and hospitalized. Also, this is a service to others that you might want to join. Call me if you are interested.
The chancel choir rehearses tonight preparing for their Sunday morning cantata. The children also rehearse at 6:30 p.m. for the Sunday evening program.
Tomorrow evening the Board will enjoy their annual Christmas Board Dinner.
Tomorrow Carolyn and I will drive to Dallas for the first in a series of tests necessary to enter a drug trial program. Please pray for us as we travel. Unfortunately we will miss the board dinner.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Advent Devotion for Today. Please read Isaiah 9:6-7:
From these words came one of the most beautiful songs from Handel’s Messiah, a thrilling piece no singer can forget. It can also be one of the most difficult to perform ….. rapid runs sung and played in close harmony ….. sudden crescendos ….. a final, emphatic vocal ritardando after which the orchestra resumes the original tempo and repeats, once more, the original melody.
For me, my feelings about this song can mirror the Christmas season. What a singularly beautiful time of year, thrilling and unforgettable. Yet we often find it a difficult time, as well ….. rapid runs between events scheduled in close succession ….. sudden demands from those around us ….. ardently traditional Christmas Eve and Christmas Day activities after which we resume the regular tempo and melody, if you will, of our lives.
I hear friends say they wish the holidays were less stressful. Do they really? Do you? Isn’t it the challenges of our lives from which we learn? Don’t the sudden crescendos and emphatic ritardandos create the thrilling and unforgettable memories? And don’t we want to return to the tempo of our lives with the beautiful melody of Jesus pressed in our hearts and minds so that we can “sing” it out to the nations throughout the coming year?
Will you pray with me?
Dearest Lord,
Thank you for the gift of Jesus. Help us follow the example set by the most Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace. Help us seek justice and righteousness for all, and let our hearts sing forth the song of His coming forever and ever. Amen
Janet Jones
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